LobbyComply Blog

The Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight passed a bill amending lobbying and contractor laws this week. Substitute Ordinance 2024-7359 amends the ethics ordinance to create an affirmative duty for every city contractor or lobbyist to report any information concerning conduct the contractor or lobbyist knows to involve corrupt activity. A failure to report would constitute an event of default for the contractor and subject the lobbyist to sanctions and other penalties. The ordinance is scheduled to be voted on by City Council on September 23.

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The Memphis City Council approved a referendum ordinance on lobbyist registration and disclosure. The referendum is set to appear on the November 3 General Election ballot. Currently, the city of Memphis has no lobbyist registration or reporting requirements. If passed by voters, City Council will be required to establish a lobbyist registration and disclosure framework by ordinance.

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National/Federal

Millions of Dollars in Secret Spending Could Upend the 2026 Midterms

Las Vegas Sun – Shane Goldmacher and Theodore Schleifer (New York Times) | Published: 8/31/2026

A New York Times review of advertising data, campaign finance filings, and tax records revealed that about $1 billion in anonymous money is moving through the political landscape in 2026, a staggering sum and yet almost certainly a low-end estimate, given how difficult this money is to trace. Dark money is the term used by the campaign industry to describe political spending by groups that hide the names of their donors. The deluge is upending races from coast to coast, with billionaires, corporations, and special interests hiding their agendas and involvement with relative ease.

House Censures GOP Rep. Chuck Edwards Over ‘Inappropriate Conduct’ with Female Staffers

MSN – Scott Wong (NBC News) | Published: 9/1/2026

The House overwhelmingly voted to censure U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards after an ethics investigation found he “engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers.” Edwards had rejected the Ethics Committee’s findings, but he did end his re-election campaign after the committee recommended censuring him.

Influencers Have a Lot to Say About Politics. Many Are Quietly Paid for It.

Seattle Times – Ken Bensinger and Stuart Thompson (New York Times) | Published: 9/1/2026

As more people spend time scrolling on their phones, campaigns view these shows of support from influencers as a vital way to reach voters. They are also significantly less expensive than traditional advertising. But unlike campaign mailers, billboards, and television spots, these messages fall into a legal gray area. There are no federal regulations requiring disclosure of payments for political support on social media, and only a few states have such rules. That allows influencers, in most instances, to endorse candidates for a fee without ever disclosing those payments in their posts.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – Three Candidates Now Face a Criminal Probe Over Public Campaign Funding Fraud Allegations

Yahoo News – Caitlin Sievers (Arizona Mirror) | Published: 9/1/2026

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office is investigating three fringe candidates for statewide office facing allegations they falsely used voters’ information alongside fraudulent five-dollar donations to qualify for millions of dollars in public campaign funds. It has been reported that six Arizonans said their names and signatures had been used falsely by the three candidates so they could qualify for a total of more than $4.7 million in public funding. The voters also denied they had given any of the candidates money.

California – Cash Buried in LA Politician’s Backyard Helped Expose Marijuana Corruption Scheme

MSN – Richard Winton (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 8/28/2026

When the “green wash” of legalized cannabis was sweeping across California, one local official tried to style himself as a gatekeeper for the new industry. Ricardo Pacheco, a Baldwin Park city council member at the time, began meeting with other elected officials and new marijuana sellers, offering his services to smooth the regulatory challenges, prosecutors alleged. Authorities determined Pacheco was soliciting bribes and dug up $62,000 buried in his backyard early in the case, marking the beginning of a corruption scandal that has spread through several communities. Pacheco and another member of the scheme were sentenced recently.

California – Legislature Approves Anti-Corruption Crackdown on California Lobbyists

MSN – Lia Russell (Sacramento Bee) | Published: 8/31/2026

California lawmakers passed a bill that would banish lobbyists convicted of corruption from the Capitol for 12 years. It now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for his signature, three weeks before Dana Williamson, his former chief of staff and a powerful lobbyist, is set to be sentenced after she pled guilty to fraud and lying to the FBI. Assembly Bill 2592 requires lobbyists to undergo ethics training and certify when registering as a lobbyist that they have not been convicted of public corruption within the last 12 years.

New Mexico – Lawmaker’s Campaign Finance Reports Under Scrutiny After Public Nudity Scandal

Yahoo News – Daniel Chacón (Santa Fe New Mexican) | Published: 8/29/2026

Rep. Joseph Hernandez, who dropped his reelection bid after an embarrassing run-in with Chicago police, is facing new scrutiny over his campaign finance reports, which show a litany of questionable expenditures, from cash withdrawals to gift cards for unidentified workers and volunteers. Hernandez, who requested privacy for himself and his family after he was accused of running around naked at a Chicago hotel in July and banging on guest room doors, indicated in a statement that the accusations against him are overblown.

North Carolina – Despite Unexplained Donations, NC Election Board Kills Complaint About GOP Fundraiser

MSN – Dan Kane (Raleigh News & Observer) | Published: 8/30/2026

The State Board of Elections in recent months has rejected a complaint filed by a campaign finance watchdog regarding a fundraiser the North Carolina Association of Indian Americans held for Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall in 2025. In February, the board said it lacked evidence to challenge the legality of the fundraiser, which a watchdog found had brought in more than $338,000 in contributions. Bob Hall, the retired executive director of Democracy North Carolina, also challenged some of the contributions, finding people who said they did not make the donations listed in campaign reports.

Ohio – As He Worked to Advance the Intel Project, an Ohio Senator’s Wife Was Invested in It

Yahoo News – Marty Schladen (Ohio Capital Journal) | Published: 8/28/2026

U.S. Sen. Jon Husted’s wife had as much as $15,000 invested in the struggling Intel megaproject in New Albany as her husband worked to push it forward, financial disclosures show. At least since Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine appointed Husted to the Senate at the beginning of 2025, Husted has had communications with Intel about potential deals with other businesses to revive the project. Husted has also received thousands in campaign contributions from Intel lobbyist Josh Rubin.

Pennsylvania – Dozens of Former Pa. Lawmakers Are Now Registered to Lobby Their Old Workplace

MSN – Stephen Caruso and Jaxon White (Spotlight PA) | Published: 9/1/2026

At least 48 former members of Pennsylvania’s General Assembly are now registered lobbyists seeking to influence policies they once shaped. They range from former rank-and-file lawmakers to the onetime most powerful members of the Legislature. Their clients span a range of prominent industries, often ones the lobbyist was once involved in legislating, a review of the state’s lobbying disclosure database shows. Efforts to tighten the reins on lawmakers becoming lobbyists have failed in Pennsylvania, despite bipartisan interest just a few years ago.

Greensboro City Council approved an ordinance to increase the gift threshold for nominal gifts from $30 to $50 per gift. Items  valued at less than $50 now fall into the exception to the gift ban for city officials. Resolution 2026-100 also amends and updates the city’s code of ethics and disclosure requirements for city officials. The new gift amount is effective immediately.

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National/Federal

White House Official’s Move to Oil Company She Aided Raises Ethics Questions

MSN – Ian Stevenson, James Bikales, and Scott Waldman (Politico) | Published: 8/21/2026

People milling around before a press conference in Santa Barbara, California, in June might have mistaken Brittany Kelm, a White House staffer, for an oil company representative. During the tour of oil facilities run by Sable Offshore, a company that owns an offshore pipeline which the Trump administration had recently helped to get oil flowing through, Kelm sported a Sable-branded cap and a Sable-branded shirt with her name embroidered on it. Less than three months later, Kelm would announce her departure from her job at the council to take over Sable’s Washington policy office.

Supreme Court Eases Path for Trump’s Sweeping Limits on Mail-In Balloting

MSN – Justin Jouvenal, Patrick Marley, and Julian Mark (Washington Post) | Published: 8/24/2026

The Supreme Court eased the path for an executive order by President Trump that would impose sweeping new restrictions on mail-in balloting for November’s midterm elections, but the complex and fast-moving legal fight is not over. The executive order would bar the U.S. Postal Service from sending mail-in ballots to voters not on lists of citizens created by federal agencies. States also would be obligated to send the ballots in envelopes that can be tracked to thwart fraud.

GOP Appeals Campaign Finance Setback to Supreme Court

MSN – Ramsey Touchberry (Washington Examiner) | Published: 8/26/2026

Congressional Republicans will make a final attempt to gain a midterm spending boost against Democrats after an appeals court dealt them a blow by ruling coordinated ad buys between political parties and joint fundraising committees are not entitled to cheaper candidate rates. The Monday decision from the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which came in response to a legal challenge from Democrats, reverses part of a Supreme Court ruling in June that allowed unlimited coordinated spending between political parties and candidates.

From the States and Municipalities

Alaska – Dan Sullivan Joins Dan Sullivan on the November Ballot in Confusing Alaska Race

MSN – Victoria Craw (Washington Post) | Published: 8/26/2026

Dan Sullivan, a retired teacher whose candidacy in Alaska’s open U.S. Senate primary sparked accusations of deception, has advanced to the general election in a move that is likely to spark further frustrations for the Republican incumbent – whose name is also Dan Sullivan. The development marks the latest twist in a saga that has seen Dan J. Sullivan accused of acting in bad faith by trying to confuse voters and split support for the Republican incumbent. Dan J. Sullivan has denied the claims, citing a genuine desire to effect change as the driving force behind his candidacy.

Arizona – Arizona AG Declines to Charge Gov. Katie Hobbs Over Pay-to-Play Allegations

Yahoo News – Jacques Billeaud (Associated Press) | Published: 8/21/2026

State prosecutors declined to file criminal charges against Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs over allegations she took part in a “pay-to-play” scheme with a group home company that received a rate increase from the state after contributing $100,000 to her inaugural celebration. Hobbs has been accused of giving preferential treatment to Sunshine Residential Homes after the Arizona Republic revealed the company contributed to the inaugural fund and Arizona Democratic Party and later received a 30 percent payment increase. Only Sunshine and one other company were given increases during the 2022-2023 contracting period.

Illinois – Chicago Ethics Board Hits 1 Year Without a Leader, as Executive Director Retires and Election Season Begins

WTTW – Heather Cherone | Published: 8/26/2026

As the Chicago Board of Ethics prepares to enforce the city’s ethics laws during the 2027 municipal election, it has been without a permanent leader for more than a year, and its longtime executive director, Steve Berlin, will retire at the end of August. In addition, the terms of two members of the board have expired, including Vice Chairperson Ryan Cortazar, who has led the board since former Chairperson William Conlon stepped down in July 2025. Mayor Brandon Johnson’s failure to name a new chairperson for 13 months has infuriated good-government advocates.

Michigan – Proposal to Ban DTE, Consumers Energy Political Spending Poised to Make November Ballot

MSN – Danielle James (MLive) | Published: 8/26/2026

A proposal seeking to ban for-profit utilities and some of Michigan’s largest corporations from spending on campaigns is poised to make the November general election ballot. The petition initiative was voted through the state House on Tuesday, a first step to rerouting the proposal away from voters. But Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks said her chamber would not vote to take up the ballot measure. Without further action, the petition is poised to clear a legislative review period and be placed on the midterm ballot.

Michigan – Detroit’s Top Legal Officer Faces Ethics Probe for Lear Role

MSN – Louis Aguilar (Detroit News) | Published: 8/21/2026

The Detroit Board of Ethics has ordered an investigation into the city’s chief legal officer for his lucrative position as a member of the board of directors for an auto supplier with a plant in Detroit, as well as whether he properly disclosed that his son works for the city. At issue is whether Corporation Counsel Conrad Mallet Jr. properly disclosed he is on the board of directors for Lear Corp. and whether that role is a potential conflict-of interest. Mallet was the city’s deputy mayor at the time the auto supplier received a multi-million-dollar tax-incentive deal in 2021 for building a new plant in the city.

New York – Lobbyists Are Still Feeling Good in Mamdani’s New York

City & State New York – Jeff Coltin and Annie McDonough | Published: 8/24/2026

Zohran Mamdani had just won the Democratic mayoral primary, and lobbyists were nervous. The man who could be leading New York City was an anti-capitalist. And for a business where phone numbers are currency, Mamdani was not a part of the scene. “People were concerned there was going to be a ban – they weren’t going to be able to get access,” said Diane Savino, who works as a lobbyist with Allied Government Affairs. But that has not happened.

Oklahoma – Ex-Vendor Sues Oklahoma Ethics Board Over Ethics System Replacement, Seeks $6M in Damages

Yahoo News – Emma Murphy (Oklahoma Voice) | Published: 8/24/2026

A Texas company countersued the Oklahoma Ethics Commission, alleging it suffered $6 million in losses after the agency ended a contract to replace the state’s campaign finance system. RFD and Associates claimed the commission unnecessarily terminated its contract and delays in the project were due to issues with provided datasets and unclear and changing expectations.

National/Federal

ABC Sues FCC, Claiming First Amendment Violations, Escalating Months-Long Feud

MSN – Scott Nover (Washington Post) | Published: 8/18/2026

ABC sued the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), alleging the commission’s early review of its broadcast licenses is unconstitutional under the First Amendment. The network, along with parent company Disney, accused the FCC of waging a “retaliatory campaign” against them because the Trump administration disapproves of their programming. The lawsuit is an escalation of a months-long feud between the FCC, run by Trump appointee Brendan Carr, and ABC.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – This Mayoral Candidate Alleged Unregistered Lobbying. But Did He Do Just That?

MSN – CBC | Published: 8/13/2026

When Ottawa mayoral candidate Alex Lawson recently accused incumbent Mark Sutcliffe of having a “cozy relationship” with a government relations firm, his complaint focused in part on allegations of unregistered lobbying. But CBC News has learned that Lawson himself previously sent emails to several city council members without registering the communications. In January 2025, Lawson asked them for help to set up a training academy for residential construction, an industry in which he is involved as the owner of a home framing company.

Alaska – Votes Surge in Favor of Ballot Measure 1, Reinstating Alaska Campaign Contribution Limits

Yahoo News – Margaret Carmel (Anchorage Daily News) | Published: 8/19/2026

Early returns from Alaska’s statewide primary election showed overwhelming support for a ballot measure which will restrict the amount of money that candidates can accept from groups and individuals. The early results, with nearly 94 percent of precincts reporting, are preliminary with thousands more ballots set to be counted in the coming days. Ballot Measure 1 would limit individual contributions to $2,000 for candidates and $5,000 for political parties and would limit groups to donating a maximum of $4,000 to candidates and $5,000 to parties.

California – San Diego County Supervisors Pass ‘Anti-Corruption’ Restrictions Tied to Prediction Markets, Lobbying

KPBS – Kevin Trevellyan (City News Service) | Published: 8/19/2026

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors passed a measure to restrict post-employment lobbying and prohibit some county officials from using prediction market platforms, such as Kalshi, for insider trading. The proposal asks staff to design a two-year prohibition on former officials and employees lobbying the county, including alternatives to close a “strategic consulting loophole” allowing them to direct lobbying campaigns without personally contacting lawmakers.

Colorado – Colorado Ballot Questions, Meant to Keep Special Interests in Check, Are Increasingly Created by Them

Colorado Sun – Colleen Selvin | Published: 8/18/2026

Between 1960 and 2024, Colorado had the third highest number of voter-initiated ballot measures, behind California and Oregon. Colorado’s 14 statewide ballot questions in 2024, half citizen-initiated and half from the Legislature, were the most in any state that year. But a process that Colorado adopted over a generation ago as a way for voters to challenge powerful interests and lawmakers’ prerogatives has increasingly become a tool for those same interests.

Hawaii – Ban Taxpayer-Funded Mailers During Elections, Ethics Chief Says

Honolulu Civil Beat – Ben Angarone | Published: 8/20/2026

Honolulu City Council members are allowed to spend taxpayer dollars touting their accomplishments in mass mailers, even close to election time when name recognition is a valuable commodity. But the Honolulu Ethics Commission’s new director, Dandy Ma, wants to make that practice illegal. Ma’s proposal would ban taxpayer-funded mass mailers within 60 days of elections.

Indiana – Ethics Panel Clears Braun Administration Official to Join Construction Firm, Lobby Lawmakers

Yahoo News – Casey Smith (Indiana Capital Chronicle) | Published: 8/13/2026

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun’s administration’s top contract-oversight official can immediately begin lobbying state lawmakers for a construction company after an ethics panel waived a one-year restriction on such work. The Indiana State Ethics Commission unanimously approved the waiver for Department of Administration Commissioner Brandon Clifton, who plans to become director of government affairs for Hagerman Group.

New Hampshire – Former NH House Speaker’s Nonprofit Collected $274,000 from Casinos with No Sign of Charitable Work

New Hampshire Public Radio – Catherine McLaughlin (Concord Monitor) | Published: 8/17/2026

Former New Hampshire House Speaker George Roberts Jr., who is a retired lobbyist, took in more than $250,000 in charitable gaming proceeds over the past seven years for an inactive nonprofit, a Concord Monitor investigation found. In January, Roberts accepted a nearly $131,000 check from one of the state’s largest casinos, the Nash. Despite its earnings, the Monitor found no evidence the organization has engaged in any public activity, such as holding an event or a meeting.

New Jersey – ELEC Defends Removal of Decades of Campaign Finance Reports from Website

New Jersey Globe – David Wildstein | Published: 8/18/2026

The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) is defending its decision to remove decades of campaign finance reports from its website, saying the temporary restriction is necessary to prevent the disclosure of home addresses protected under Daniel’s Law. The records have not been sealed and may still be obtained by contacting ELEC or filing an Open Public Records Act request. But unlike the immediate access previously available online, agency employees must now review each request and apply legally required redactions.

New York – NY’s Government Oversight Entities Vulnerable to Politics, Fragmentation, Report Finds

MSN – Dan Clark (Albany Times Union) | Published: 8/11/2026

New York has myriad entities that oversee ethics in state government, but their work can be stunted by uncertainty over funding, political interference, and a lack of coordination, according to a new report. The findings are the result of an analysis from Reinvent Albany, a good government group, and students at the State Policy Advocacy Clinic at Cornell University. They examined the network of entities charged with preventing and addressing corruption and misconduct in state government to identify gaps that could be addressed through changes made by the Legislature.

National/Federal

Ex-Southern Poverty Law Center Official Indicted Over Payments to Informants

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck and Olivia George (Washington Post) | Published: 8/12/2026

A former top official at the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) was indicted on fraud charges, an escalation of the Justice Department’s ongoing case against the civil rights organization. Federal prosecutors accused Heidi Beirich, an expert on political extremism and a former director of the SPLC’s intelligence project, of overseeing payments to informants working undercover in a variety of hate groups. A lawyer for Beirich denounced the charges as an attempt by the Trump administration to “silence political opponents.”

From the States and Municipalities

Alabama – Ethics Commission Delays Revolving Door Advisory Opinion

Alabama Political Reporter – Mary Clare Wooten | Published: 8/6/2026

The Alabama Ethics Commission delayed action on a proposed advisory opinion clarifying how the state’s “revolving door” law applies to retiring officials who establish private consulting businesses after leaving state government. The request came from Antoine Dunklin, producer licensing director for the Alabama Department of Insurance. He said he plans to retire in 2027 and establish a consulting firm. He asked whether he could contract directly with the Department of Insurance to provide consulting services.

Alaska – Legislative Immunity Clause Protects Alaska Ethics Investigations, State Supreme Court Says

Yahoo News – James Brooks (Alaska Beacon) | Published: 8/7/2026

The Alaska Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s decision to dismiss a lawsuit by former state Sen. Lora Reinbold against the state of Alaska and the Alaska Legislature’s committee on legislative ethics. Reinbold had sued the committee and the executive branch in 2022 after the committee concluded Reinbold violated the Legislative Ethics Act by blocking people from commenting on her legislative Facebook page “solely for expressing opinions in disagreement with her own.”

Delaware – Koch-Backed Lobbying Firm Asks Third Circuit to Halt Delaware Donor Transparency Law

Courthouse News Service – Jackson Healy | Published: 8/10/2026

A lobbying firm asked the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals to pause a Delaware law requiring advocacy groups to disclose the names and addresses of their donors just weeks ahead of state elections. Americans for Prosperity and the related Americans for Prosperity Foundation, a nonprofit lobbying group and political research organization founded by conservative billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, sued Delaware’s attorney general and state election commissioner in April, arguing the state’s donor disclosure laws violate the First Amendment.

Michigan – A Ballot Fight Over Corporate Money in Michigan Politics Is Coming to Voters

Yahoo News – Minnah Arshad (Michigan Advance) | Published: 8/11/2026

Voters will decide whether to upend campaign finance in Michigan when they head to the polls in November as outrage over money in politics intensifies pressure for reform. The ballot initiative would ban companies with over $250,000 in annual state government contracts, as well as regulated gas and electric utilities, from spending in Michigan elections. The proposal would also prohibit people and organizations with “substantial connections” to the utilities and contractors from spending, such as lobbyists or the immediate family members of executives.

New Mexico – 10th Circuit: New Mexico campaign finance law interferes with political expression

Courthouse News Service – Joe Duhownik | Published: 8/11/2026

The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals revived a former state senator’s challenge to a New Mexico law that governs what types of donations politicians can make with campaign funds, finding a portion of the statute violates the First Amendment on its face. Vacating a summary judgment ruling for New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, the panel decided the secretary cannot discern what donations carry political expression when making exceptions to the Campaign Reporting Act, a statutory ban on campaign fund donations to non-501(c)(3) organizations or individuals.

New Mexico – NM State Ethics Commission Reaches Settlement with Group Behind Project Jupiter Ads

KRQE – Fallon Fischer | Published: 8/11/2026

New Mexico’s ethics commission and Elevate New Mexico, a Virginia-based corporation, have reached a settlement over claims that the corporation did not comply with the state’s Lobbyist Regulation Act. The state claimed in a lawsuit that Elevate New Mexico violated the law when it launched an advertising campaign earlier this year for the purpose of lobbying for the proposed Project Jupiter data center campus in Doña Ana County.

North Carolina – NC Lawmakers Got All-Access Passes to NASCAR Coca-Cola 600. Now We Know Who Went

MSN – Dan Kane (Raleigh News & Observer) | Published: 8/12/2026

Twenty-three North Carolina lawmakers and a former state senator attended this year’s Coca-Cola 600 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. All but one received at least two all-expense-paid passes for the event. The average value per attendee was $850. All told, the speedway spent $51,000 on the lawmakers and the people they invited to come along. For the first time since 2019, the speedway has reported the expenses to the state this year.

Ohio – White House Officials Tamped Down Efforts to Oust Max Miller in Final Days

MSN – Meredith Lee Hill, Mia McCarthy, and Erin Doherty (Politico) | Published: 8/10/2026

Embattled U.S. Rep. Max Miller is staying in the race for his Ohio congressional district, defying those within his own party who urged him to step aside as he faced domestic abuse allegations from his ex-wife. At one point, Republicans in the state discussed scheduling the required meeting to replace Miller, in the hopes it would pressure him to drop out of the race. But Ohio Republicans scuttled that effort as White House officials warned them that Miller would not drop out, and Republicans would likely have to defend the seat without a new GOP replacement contender.

Ohio – JobsOhio Chairman Lobbies for Intel, a Company That Got Millions from JobsOhio

Yahoo News – Marty Schladen (Ohio Capital Journal) | Published: 8/7/2026

JobsOhio says it has been transparent and its board has been free of conflicts as it has handed out $2 billion in public money to private corporations. But the chairperson of its board is a lobbyist who represented Intel just as the board of which he was a member disbursed more than $2 million to the company as part of a package of grants for what is now a severely delayed project. The lobbyist, Josh Rubin, was being paid to promote Intel’s agenda to the governor’s office when Gov. Mike DeWine appointed him to the JobsOhio board, which he had also actively lobbied on Intel’s behalf as recently as a year earlier.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed three bills into law on July 21, expanding revolving door laws. Public Act 74 expands the current prohibition against lobbying by state legislators who resign during a term of office to apply to all former state legislators for two years after they leave office and applicable to legislators whose term of office begins on or after January 1, 2027. Public Act 75 prohibits a former governor, lieutenant governor, or head of a principal executive branch department whose term of office begins on or after January 1, 2027, from making expenditures for lobbying, or being compensated or reimbursed for lobbying, in an amount requiring registration as a lobbyist agent, for two years after they leave office. Public Act 76 prohibits a currently serving state legislator from being compensated, other than their legislative pay, to lobby legislative or executive officials in other states, the federal government, or any other government.

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Stay up to date with all state and federal lobbying laws. Sign up for our online guidebooks and never miss a compliance law change. 

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – New Foreign Influence Office Won’t Prevent Foreign Interference, Commissioner Says

MSN – CBC | Published: 8/4/2026

Canada’s new foreign influence office will not prevent foreign interference, but it will provide more transparency for Canadians who want to know who is trying to influence their government officials on behalf of foreign governments, said Anton Boegman, Canada’s first foreign influence transparency commissioner. Anyone who works with or on behalf of a foreign government or agency to influence a politician or government official at the federal, provincial, or municipal level will now have to register. Fines for failing to comply with the new rules range from $250 to $1 million.

Georgia – Georgia Ethics Cops Nix Judge, Put First Liberty-Linked GOP PACs on Hook for $45K

Hoodline – Ray Bianchi | Published: 8/4/2026

Georgia’s ethics commission rejected a judge’s ruling that cleared two conservative political groups, reopening the path to civil penalties over allegedly hidden election spending. The Georgia Republican Assembly and its affiliated PAC now face a fresh legal headache after the commission unanimously rejected the administrative law judge’s findings. The commission is expected to take up penalties in September.

Hawaii – ‘Culture Of Corruption’? Records Link Arrested Lawmaker to Lobbyist

Honolulu Civil Beat – Blaze Lovell | Published: 7/27/2026

Prosecutors allege lobbyist Tobi Solidum paid Rep. Ryan Yamane in a series of cash and check installments to take official actions culminating in a scheme, prosecutors allege, to direct emergency funds to a Covid-testing program run by the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii. Solidum made millions of dollars from the testing program, according to court documents. Yamane is now the third member of the House to be accused of bribery in recent years.

Hawaii – Hawai’i Lawmakers Demand Special Session Following Bribery Indictments

Honolulu Civil Beat – Chad Blair | Published: 7/30/2026

Hours after four defendants pleaded not guilty to bribery and other charges, a coalition of lawmakers and community groups are calling for the Hawaii Legislature to act. They want a special session to be held before the general election in November to immediately pass legislation that would prohibit government contractors from making campaign donations.

Maine – Federal Appeals Court Hears Maine Test Case on Regulating Super PACs

Yahoo News – Emma Davis (Maine Morning Star) | Published: 7/29/2026

The U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision that struck down limits on independent political spending does not need to be overturned to rein in Big Money in politics, Neal Katyal argued before the First U.S. Court of Appeals in defense of Maine’s 2024 referendum regulating political spending. Whether the three-judge panel agrees could determine whether the Maine test case will go before the U.S. Supreme Court, which has been the goal of those behind the ballot referendum from the outset.

Michigan – El-Sayed Edges Out Establishment Candidate in Crucial Michigan Senate Primary

MSN – Erin Cox and Praveena Somasundaram (Washington Post) | Published: 8/5/2026

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, a former public health official who built a surging progressive movement in Michigan, overcame a spending disadvantage and opposition from the Democratic establishment to win the U.S. Senate primary. El-Sayed used a populist message to beat U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens. El-Sayed’s win both accelerates an ideological fight within his party and launches a hypercompetitive general election contest with national implications.

Michigan – Top Detroit Official Earned $1.8M at Company Getting City Tax Breaks

USA Today – Violet Ikonomova (Detroit Free Press) | Published: 8/6/2026

The Lear Corporation’s auto supply plant opened in Detroit with help from millions of dollars in tax breaks brokered by City Hall and a city development nonprofit. One man held, and still holds, leadership roles in all three organizations: Conrad Mallett. He is the top lawyer at City Hall, representing departments that pushed for or approved a tax break for Lear. Mallett is also board chair of the nonprofit Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, whose staff recommended a tax break for Lear and worked on the broader plant deal.

North Carolina – SBI Director Appears at NC Fundraiser. Why Ethics Experts Say That’s a Problem

MSN – Dan Kane (Raleigh News & Observer) | Published: 8/5/2026

The director of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) attended a political fundraiser at a restaurant for a North Carolina lawmaker. The next day, an SBI social media post praised lawmakers for their support. This happened as the bureau is conducting an expanding criminal investigation into a politically connected nonprofit, Greater Carolina, that took lawmakers on two trips in Kentucky that were paid for in part by liquor businesses.

Ohio – Judge Tosses 3 Charges Against Ex-FirstEnergy Exec, Leaves Bribery Charges Intact

MSN – Adam Ferrise (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 8/4/2026

A judge dismissed three charges against former FirstEnergy lobbyist Michael Dowling but left intact the central bribery accusations against him and former Chief Executive Officer Chuck Jones as the case heads toward a second trial. Summit County Common Pleas Judge Susan Baker Ross threw out two counts of tampering with records and one count of telecommunications fraud against Dowling.

Texas – Who’s Lobbying Austin City Hall? Data Shows the Biggest Players and Who They’re Talking To

MSN – Michael Zhang and Chaya Tong (Austin American-Statesman) | Published: 8/2/2026

The Austin officials contacted most frequently by registered lobbyists are not Mayor Kirk Watson or the 10 other members of the city council. Instead, the list is dominated by city employees who review zoning cases, development proposals, and other policy matters before they reach elected officials. New disclosure rules expanded the types of lobbying contacts that must be disclosed to include emails, text messages, phone calls, and other communications. Lobbyists are now responsible for reporting their own contacts with city officials.

National/Federal

Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Allow New Limits on Mail Ballots

MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 7/27/2026

The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to clear the way for a sweeping executive order that would place major new restrictions on mail-in voting for November’s midterm elections. A divided panel of an appeals court upheld a federal judge’s block on the order, finding it would “sow confusion” and “threaten disenfranchisement of many eligible voters.” Trump claims that voting irregularities are widespread, despite a lack of evidence.

Government Withdraws Subpoenas of 3 Reporters for The New York Times After Admitting Legal Errors

Yahoo News – Michael Sisak, Eric Tucker, and Larry Neumeister (Associated Press) | Published: 7/22/2026

Criticized by a federal judge for sloppy legal work, the government withdrew subpoenas that would have compelled three New York Times reporters to testify about their sources for articles about President Trump’s Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet. The withdrawals come at a time when the Trump administration is vigorously going after news organizations whose reporting and coverage it does not like, and also trying to crack down on leaks inside the government.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Lobbyist Admits Lunch with Mayor’s Staffer Broke Rules, but Says She’s Been Vindicated

MSN – Arthur White-Crummey | Published: 7/27/2026

After a complaint about Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe’s relationship with a lobbying firm was resolved without penalty, the company’s chief executive has acknowledged she did not comply with the rules by buying lunch for the mayor’s chief of staff. Integrity commissioner Karen Shepherd was asked to investigate a complaint made by mayoral candidate Alex Lawson, who alleged Syntax Strategic and its Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Stewart breached the city’s lobbying law and code of conduct in at least five different ways.

Arizona – GOP Arizona Corporation Commission Candidate Faces Loss of $370,000 from Clean Elections

KJZZ – Wayne Schutsky | Published: 7/29/2026

A Republican running for the Arizona Corporation Commission is facing allegations he filed misleading financial reports and is at risk of losing out on publicly funded campaign dollars. This year, qualified Corporation Commission candidates are eligible for up to nearly $370,000 in Clean Elections funding. But state Rep. Ralph Heap might not see a dime. That is because he has not filed a sworn statement affirming he has filed accurate campaign finance reports that show how much money his campaign raised and how it was spent.

California – Sweeping FBI Raids in San Bernardino, Beverly Hills Tied to Larger Foreign Influence Probes, Sources Say

MSN – Richard Winston (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 7/28/2026

A series of recent FBI raids involving San Bernardino County elected officials and a Chinese-language media company are part of a growing probes into public corruption and foreign influence in Southern California, law enforcement sources say. FBI agents searched the homes and offices of a San Bernardino County supervisor, an Ontario City Council member, and the offices of EDI Media, a well-known Chinese-U.S. media producer. Officials also raided a Beverly Hills mansion owned by a Chinese family and obtained records at Ontario International Airport.

Hawaii – Bribery Charges: Sylvia Luke, ex-state rep and others indicted in corruption case

Honolulu Civil Beat – Madeleine Valera, Blaze Lovell, and Christina Jedra | Published: 7/24/2026

A grand jury indicted Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, as well as ex-state Rep. Ryan Yamane, local businessperson Tobi Solidum, and other individuals, accusing one of the state’s highest ranking public officials of corruption. The felony indictments are part of the attorney general’s investigation into an “influential” lawmaker who federal prosecutors said took $35,000 from a federal bribery suspect in 2022, a mystery that has gripped the state for more than a year. The new charges represent another monumental moment in a political scandal that already landed two of Luke’s former colleagues in prison.

Indiana – ‘Dreamy’ Suite Views and a Corvette: Here’s how Hogsett uses mayoral perks

MSN – Hayleigh Colombo (Indianapolis Star) | Published: 7/29/2026

During Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett’s decade in office, the city’s private suites at Gainbridge and Lucas Oil Stadium served as gathering spots for a “revolving door” of well-connected guests. Despite making a vow to “renounce all perks of the office” if he was elected mayor, Hogsett and his family have been frequent attendees of Pacers and Colts games and other events. The suites, controlled by the mayor’s office and provided to the city as part of the facilities’ operating agreements, are intended to be used by city officials and employees for city business.

Maine – Democrats Pick New Senate Candidate in Maine in Aftermath of Platner Debacle

MSN – Alexei Koseff (Washington Post) | Published: 7/26/2026

The Maine Democratic Party formally selected Troy Jackson as its new Senate nominee, ending three tumultuous weeks that nearly derailed the party’s quest to unseat veteran Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Jackson is a 58-year-old logger and former leader of the Maine Senate. He won the nomination by commandeering the progressive movement that had propelled Platner. Jackson’s supporters swept the delegate selection process for a hastily organized convention to choose Platner’s replacement, compelling most of Jackson’s rivals to drop out ahead of the meeting.

Michigan – Lobbying Ban Tackles One Gap in Michigan Ethics and Transparency Laws

MSN – Clara Hendrickson (Detroit Free Press) | Published: 7/28/2026

New laws in Michigan law aim to slow the “revolving door” between holding public office and lobbying, creating a waiting period before state lawmakers, the governor, and other officials can capitalize on their political experience in the private sector. The legislation also prevents current lawmakers from receiving compensation for lobbying activities in Michigan or another state. The laws will take effect January 1, 2027, at the start of a new legislative session.

New Mexico – Loophole Lets Federal PACs Bypass New Mexico Disclosure Rules

New Mexico In Depth – Marjorie Childress | Published: 7/30/2026

As New Mexico voters headed to the polls this spring, mailers promoting a State Land Commissioner candidate began appearing in mailboxes. The mailers came from American Energy Action Fund, a federal super PAC that promotes renewable energy. When the mailers appeared in May, the group had no filing in the state’s campaign finance database. But American Energy was not necessarily required to disclose its spending in the weeks before the primary election because, unlike other political committees, out-of-state groups registered with the FEC do not always have to register with New Mexico or follow its reporting deadlines.

On July 28, the city of Calgary’s City Council passed a proposal to explore the consideration of a lobbyist registry. The council’s Executive Committee’s “notice of motion” application made to the city council requested the council to direct the chief administrative officer and the council’s ethics advisor to conduct a jurisdictional review and report back its results to the Executive Committee by the end of 2026. The report must explore several options for city council’s consideration, including best practices from comparable Canadian municipalities; possible public disclosures requirements, and any accessibility requirements. The council also passed an amendment requiring any proposed registry  also apply to lobbying the council’s senior administrative staff.

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National/Federal

DOJ’s Subpoenas in Air Force One Probe Included Journalists’ Families, NYT Says

MSN – Cheyanne Daniels and Emilio Perez Ibarguen (Politico) | Published: 7/20/2026

The Trump administration’s attempt to subpoena the phone records of New York Times journalists in a probe about a leak on the security of President Trump’s new Air Force One jet was more extensive than initially disclosed and included journalists’ family members, according to newly unsealed court documents. The subpoenas follow a different set issued earlier in July that sought to compel reporters to testify before a federal grand jury.

Court-Appointed U.S. Attorney for Seattle Sues Over Firing by Trump

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 7/21/2026

The Seattle region’s court-appointed U.S. attorney, who was abruptly fired by the White House hours after the announcement of his new job, sued the Trump administration, teeing up a consequential legal fight over the president’s power to install loyalists in top prosecutorial roles without Senate approval. It was only the latest instance of the White House moving swiftly to terminate a U.S. attorney appointed by the courts since Donald Trump’s return to the White House last year. But Roger Rogoff’s suit is the first time one of those dismissed prosecutors has launched a legal challenge to their termination.

House Passes Stock-Trading Restrictions for Lawmakers, but Not a Full Ban

MSN – Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) | Published: 7/22/2026

Following years of demands that members of Congress limit their stock trading, the House passed a bill that would bar lawmakers, their spouses, and dependent children from buying individual stocks but allow them to keep and sell stocks they already own. But the legislation is probably dead-on-arrival in the Senate because House GOP leadership inserted into it an unrelated requirement that voters present photo identification in federal elections, a proposal that is unlikely to gain the needed votes from Senate Democrats.

From the States and Municipalities

California – Over 3 Years, Homeless Nonprofit Paid More than $1.7 Million to Companies Owned by Its Chief Executive

MSN – Andrew Khouri and Alene Tchekmedyian (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 7/22/2026

In recent years, the nonprofit A Step to Freedom has grown rapidly, collecting millions of dollars from the government to house and feed homeless people coming out of jail in Los Angeles County. The expansion enabled A Step to Freedom, run by chief executive Kenya Croom, to help far more people, but it also had another, less visible beneficiary: Croom herself. According to a review of public and internal records, over three years, the nonprofit paid more than $1.7 million to Croom’s two for-profit businesses that provided food for the shelters and, in its most recent tax filings, did not disclose her ties to them as required.

Delaware – Koch-Backed Group Loses Bid to Pause Delaware Campaign Finance Transparency

Spotlight Delaware – Jacob Owens and Matt Butler | Published: 7/20/2026

Since 2012, the Delaware Elections Disclosure Act has mandated that organizations engaging in political advertising in the state must disclose the names and addresses of anyone donating over $100 to their organization nationwide. Americans for Prosperity, a conservative political advocacy group, is seeking to overturn the law and increase its presence in politics ahead of the 2026 elections. But the rules around campaign finance transparency in Delaware are unlikely to change ahead of the September primary elections after a judge denied a conservative foundation’s request for their immediate pause.

Hawaii – Lt. Gov.’s Books Were a Mess. Political Insiders Say It’s Not the Norm

Honolulu Civil Beat – Madeleine Valera | Published: 1/14/2026

A $6,000 donation from an alcoholic beverage wholesaler. A $4,500 payment to a local catering company. Tens of thousands paid to her own campaign staff.  These are just some examples of expenditures that, for years, went unmentioned in Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke’s campaign finance disclosures. Whether they were innocent errors or actions taken with criminal intent is now up to state Attorney General Anne Lopez to decide. Several individuals who have worked on Hawaii political campaigns said Luke’s alleged error rate was unacceptable.

Indiana – Ethics Watchdog Hasn’t Met in Years Under Hogsett. One Member Didn’t Know He Was on It.

Yahoo News – Hayleigh Colombo (Indianapolis Star), and Emily Hopkins and Peter Blanchard (Mirror Indy) | Published: 7/21/2026

The little-known Indianapolis Ethics Commission was created to safeguard Marion County residents from public corrupt. The commission is entirely appointed by Mayor Joe Hogsett, who campaigned on ethics reforms in 2015. But for a mayor who touted public integrity as a top priority, his ethics commission has been largely dormant. During Hogsett’s decade in office, the commission has met just once.

New York – Donations to AG James for Trump Defense Diverted Amid Ethics Concerns

WRVO – Jimmy Vielkind (Gothamist) | Published: 7/21/2026

A legal defense fund tapped by Attorney General Letitia James is redirecting some donations after experts said the arrangement is an ethical quagmire. The Democratic Attorneys General Association last year launched a legal defense fund, which has paid nearly $720,000 to lawyers defending James against federal mortgage fraud charges. But the group recently redirected $5,200 from two donors after Gothamist published details about their giving being motivated by a desire to help James.

North Carolina – As Candidate, NC Senator Lobbied for Husband’s Energy Company Amid Federal Probe

Yahoo News – Brian Gordon (Raleigh News & Observer) | Published: 7/14/2026

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) this year accused American Efficient of operating “one of the largest and most brazen fraud schemes” in the agency’s history. The company has a link to North Carolina politics. Benjamin Abram, cofounder of American Efficient and head of its parent Modern Energy, is married to North Carolina Sen. Sophia Chitlik. What has not been previously reported is the lobbying Chitlik did alongside her husband on behalf of American Efficient during the FERC investigation.

Wisconsin – Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez Drops Out of the Governor’s Race

Yahoo News – Adam Edelman (NBC News) | Published: 7/17/2026

Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez dropped out of the governor’s race, just days after her campaign discovered major inaccuracies related to its financial reporting. The decision from Rodriguez, who had been among the front-runners in the Democratic primary, roils a wide-open race for governor in the battleground state. It also prompted at least one former candidate to revive their campaign.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released its audit of federal lobbying compliance for 2025. For the audit, the GAO reviewed a stratified sample of 101 quarterly disclosure reports filed for the third and fourth quarters of calendar year 2024 and the first and second quarters of calendar year 2025. They also reviewed random samples of 160 LD-203 reports for the year-end 2024 and midyear 2025 reports. Among its findings, the GAO concluded 94% of filers of lobbying disclosure reports were able to provide documentation to support reported income and expenses, 7% of LD-203 reports were missing reportable contributions, and for an estimated 80 percent of LD-2s, lobbyists provided documentation for all individuals who engaged in lobbying activities. For 2025, the GAO estimated that about 22 percent of LD-2s may not have properly disclosed covered positions for individual lobbyists listed. This estimate is generalizable to the population of LD-2s and does not represent a statistically significant change from prior years. The 45-page report, which was released on June 30, is titled “2025 Lobbying Disclosure: Observations on Compliance with Requirements.”

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The Legislature’s debate on tax breaks for the Alaska LNG project will continue following Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s call for another special session. The previous special session ended July 16 without making any meaningful progress on the issue.  The next special session is set to begin July 27. This does affect lobbying reporting. If the special session extends into August, a lobbyist report will be due September 30 covering activity for the month of August.

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